Seemingly trivial things that elicit an emotional response of some kind

[BoldonLad]

95% of UK citizens over 18 can use the internet. Many years ago I was trying to train District Nurses to use Electronic Patient Records. We had a particularly recalcitrant group who barely seemed able to switch on the computer. My manager at the time told me - "they are faking it, they can all order an online shop from Tesco when they are on a break. I've seen them doing it..."

IMHO there is a difference between posting on Social Media (ie using the internet) and doing “useful things” on NHS sites or Government Sites (think HMRC for starters).

Don’t know where you pulled the 95% figure from?, do 95% of over 18s even have Internet Access?

Some things require more than a smartphone. If I am wrong and 95% of the adult population have Internet Access and suitable devices and adequate skills, I must be in the infortunate position of knowing the 5% 😂

 

[Stevo 666]

I demand proof that this Rick Chasey guy ever existed.

He's over on Blueskysocial apparently.

 

[briantrumpet]

I demand proof that this Rick Chasey guy ever existed.

He still exists, but not here. His flouncing from Bike Radar was a thing of great wonder, including calling several posters rude names.

 

[Mr Celine]

95% of UK citizens over 18 can use the internet. Many years ago I was trying to train District Nurses to use Electronic Patient Records. We had a particularly recalcitrant group who barely seemed able to switch on the computer. My manager at the time told me - "they are faking it, they can all order an online shop from Tesco when they are on a break. I've seen them doing it..."

I'm perfectly capable of using telephones and the internet. I used to order repeat prescriptions by phone, until I could do it online.
Then my surgery took my meds off the repeat prescription list. They wouldn't tell me why, or gave a different excuse every time, and told me I had to phone in for a repeat prescription. They then changed their policy and decided no one can phone in for a repeat prescription under any circumstances. They won't accept requests by carrier pigeon either (I did ask).

They are now messing around with my 3 monthly blood tests. I used to go in to the surgery, get the blood extracted and make my next appointment on the way out. Now they have a new system and I can't make another appointment because 'I already have an open blood event'. I'm supposed to remember to phone to make an appointment nearer the time - but despite refusing to take repeat prescriptions over the phone they don't answer other phonecalls any quicker, to the point that walking to the surgery and making an appointment in person is quicker.

So my sympathy is with the recalcitrant district nurses who will have realised that the whizzo new system will be less convenient and take twice as long to use as the old one.

 

[Pross]

My friend who is a recruiter says that his job has maximum 5-10 years left before everyone is dealing with AI recruiters.

Beats the Real Stupidity I’ve encountered with many recruiters. This includes the one who inadvertently got me my current job. I’d spoken to him on a previous job that looked like getting a positive result but the MD’s request to appoint me as an out of budget hire was turned down.

After that the recruiter seemed to make it his mission to get me something else which involved (I found out later) scatter gunning my CV to any company he could find on the internet in my line of work without any kind of redaction so my name and current employer were visible. Luckily one of those people was an ex-colleague who then contacted me directly and I had no idea what she was talking about when she said she was interested in a chat but wasn’t paying recruiter fees. I eventually made the move and when the recruitment consultant saw the announcement he started contacting us both trying to get ‘his’ cut. I had to block him in the end.

It’s not hard to see how AI could do that.

 

[Pross]

The biggest problem I find with public sector services moving online is that even with some semblance of ability using computers I find it near impossible to find information I need. I reckon finding contact details on a Council website is a test used by people recruiting hackers for GCHQ.

From a work point of view I’m regularly told that guidance I need can be found online on the Council’s website but can’t get anywhere near it through the menus and even a direct search enquiry using Boolean terms rarely produces results. I’ll occasionally get a link sent to me but the page can’t be found if you don’t use the link.

I’m not sure who designed the interface most Council’s use but it’s virtually useless for anything other than basic information, FAQs and reams if Council policies and reports I assume they have a legal requirement to publish.

 

[BoldonLad]

I'm perfectly capable of using telephones and the internet. I used to order repeat prescriptions by phone, until I could do it online.
Then my surgery took my meds off the repeat prescription list. They wouldn't tell me why, or gave a different excuse every time, and told me I had to phone in for a repeat prescription. They then changed their policy and decided no one can phone in for a repeat prescription under any circumstances. They won't accept requests by carrier pigeon either (I did ask).

They are now messing around with my 3 monthly blood tests. I used to go in to the surgery, get the blood extracted and make my next appointment on the way out. Now they have a new system and I can't make another appointment because 'I already have an open blood event'. I'm supposed to remember to phone to make an appointment nearer the time - but despite refusing to take repeat prescriptions over the phone they don't answer other phonecalls any quicker, to the point that walking to the surgery and making an appointment in person is quicker.

So my sympathy is with the recalcitrant district nurses who will have realised that the whizzo new system will be less convenient and take twice as long to use as the old one.

I didn't realise you lived in my area, and used the same GP Surgery as I do 😂

 

[The Crofted Crest]

I'm retiring in a couple of weeks and am being replaced with three freelances proposed by a recruiter. One has absolutely no experience in my field, one has a little but in a very adjacent field, and one had some experience many years ago. The aim is to replace all three in six months when the in-house AI system is up and running.

 

[TailWindHome]

Football
Bloody hell

 

[Electric_Andy]

IMHO there is a difference between posting on Social Media (ie using the internet) and doing “useful things” on NHS sites or Government Sites (think HMRC for starters).

Don’t know where you pulled the 95% figure from?, do 95% of over 18s even have Internet Access?

Some things require more than a smartphone. If I am wrong and 95% of the adult population have Internet Access and suitable devices and adequate skills, I must be in the infortunate position of knowing the 5% 😂

I seriously don't know anyone over 18 who doesn't have a smartphone and/or tablet. My parents are part of social groups, church etc and all comms is via email. They are nearing 80. They have a PC, smartphones and an iPad. My son is only 13 and him and all his mates have pre-pay debit cards which they can manage through an App, and they now all have to do their homework online.

 

[Pblakeney]

I seriously don't know anyone over 18 who doesn't have a smartphone and/or tablet. My parents are part of social groups, church etc and all comms is via email. They are nearing 80. They have a PC, smartphones and an iPad. My son is only 13 and him and all his mates have pre-pay debit cards which they can manage through an App, and they now all have to do their homework online.

I could introduce you to my Dad if you wish.
And all of his friends.

 

[BoldonLad]

I seriously don't know anyone over 18 who doesn't have a smartphone and/or tablet. My parents are part of social groups, church etc and all comms is via email. They are nearing 80. They have a PC, smartphones and an iPad. My son is only 13 and him and all his mates have pre-pay debit cards which they can manage through an App, and they now all have to do their homework online.

I am a few months short of 79years old. I have iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Two MacBook Pro (one running Linux Mint), and, a couple of Raspberry-Pi which I "play about with. Needless to say, we have fibre to the house broadband, plus I have mobile router and SIM for Internet in our Motorhome. I may be wrong, but, I don't think this is typical.

My children (age range 49 - 55) all have smartphones, most also have tablet, laptop, broadband.

My grandchildren (age range 10 - 32) similarly have smartphones, tablets, laptops.

However, in my wider circle of relatives, friends, acquaintances (including people I encountered whilst volunteering to assist the proverbial "less well-off") the above level of technology ownership and use was far from typical, although, smart phone ownership was almost, but, not quite, universal. For those on Minimum Wage or less, IT "kit" and broadband are luxury items.

There are also of course the not insignificant number within the population who cannot use the technology, for a number of reasons (like for example, my wife, (she owns a smart phone, but, Alzheimers means her ability to use it is limited to answering an incoming call, she cannot make a call, use FaceTime or make a WhatsApp video call, similarly even checking her bank balance is a challenge).

I suppose, ultimately, it depends on the "bubble" in which we live.

 

[First Aspect]

I am a few months short of 79years old. I have...Two MacBook Pro (one running Linux Mint), and, a couple of Raspberry-Pi which I "play about with.

So I need to be as kind as I can, but you need to get a friend or relative to put a post it note on each one of them to say that you already own one. That way you won't forget and buy another one.

 

[BoldonLad]

So I need to be as kind as I can, but you need to get a friend or relative to put a post it note on each one of them to say that you already own one. That way you won't forget and buy another one.

?

 

[briantrumpet]

I am a few months short of 79years old. I have iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Two MacBook Pro (one running Linux Mint), and, a couple of Raspberry-Pi which I "play about with. Needless to say, we have fibre to the house broadband, plus I have mobile router and SIM for Internet in our Motorhome. I may be wrong, but, I don't think this is typical.

My children (age range 49 - 55) all have smartphones, most also have tablet, laptop, broadband.

My grandchildren (age range 10 - 32) similarly have smartphones, tablets, laptops.

However, in my wider circle of relatives, friends, acquaintances (including people I encountered whilst volunteering to assist the proverbial "less well-off") the above level of technology ownership and use was far from typical, although, smart phone ownership was almost, but, not quite, universal. For those on Minimum Wage or less, IT "kit" and broadband are luxury items.

There are also of course the not insignificant number within the population who cannot use the technology, for a number of reasons (like for example, my wife, (she owns a smart phone, but, Alzheimers means her ability to use it is limited to answering an incoming call, she cannot make a call, use FaceTime or make a WhatsApp video call, similarly even checking her bank balance is a challenge).

I suppose, ultimately, it depends on the "bubble" in which we live.

It was very much a mixed picture for my mum's circle of a similar age (b.1933) - she was OK, my godmother wouldn't touch them (as seems to be the case with most of the people I've known over 90), and others were just about OK with email and usng basic stuff like email and Google searches. Much beyond that, and it was very sketchy or non-existent. It was hilarious watching my mum use a keyboard... once she worked out where the space bar was, her left thumb hovered over that, and then she typed with the index finger of her right hand, wondering why the letters weren't in alphabetical order. She'd never used a typewriter (or learnt to drive).

The extent of Dad's IT literacy was something like one of these: